Published: October 16, 2009 10:35 am      

Group joins Cleburne chamber

The Johnson County Builders Association gathered Wednesday for a membership drive luncheon and ribbon cutting for having joined the Cleburne Chamber of Commerce.

Nearly 60 association and chamber members and representatives from local businesses ate lunch and mingled outside the entrance to the Santa Fe Room at First Financial Bank in Cleburne.

Businesses were encouraged to bring business cards, hats, pens and other materials to display on tables outside.

JCBA President Darrell Hightower said the association, created in July 2008, has grown, with 37 members and several business associates including the First Financial Bank, Grandview Bank and Pinnacle Bank.

Five new members joined at the event.

“We have a rapidly growing base, and we decided to join a chamber to solidify us in the community,” he said. “We’re working to unite all the construction efforts in Johnson County to create a level playing field and a positive environment for growth in Johnson County.”

After lunch, Cleburne Mayor Ted Reynolds told the crowd that he didn’t realize how big the group was and that it’s formation is something that needed to happen.

In a room lined with paintings of the Santa Fe Railroad, Reynolds said the Texas 121 project is the most critical thing to happen to Cleburne since the railroad came to town in 1898

“Not having that freeway built would be like the railroad never coming to town,” he said. “The way the situation is now, if we don’t all get together and do something about it, it’s not going to get built.”

Reynolds relayed bad news about Cleburne’s 9.4 percent unemployment rate and how sales taxes have been down 33 percent, month-to-month over the last year, but he tried to rally the members to help make a positive change in the city and county.

“Right now, things are not really good,” he said. “That’s the bad part, but the good part is, I think we’ve hit bottom, and I’m sure some of you have detected signs of things being back on the upswing. We need a catalyst, we need to make something happen for things to get better, and that’s where you as a group can help me.”